198 THE FAUNA OF THE SALCOMBR ESTUAT^Y. 



number of denticulations is more than 12, in this respect resembling 

 M. cristata ; but again the amount of variation renders the character of 

 little use as a specific distinction. 



In other characters the Salcombe specimens agree with those de- 

 scribed by von Marenzeller. The isolated dorsal hooks behind the 

 gills as well as the ventral uncini are both well represented by von 

 Marenzeller's figures. The uncini have generally five large teeth, one 

 rudimentary tooth and rounded ends, with the exception of those 

 at the end of each row, which have often four large teeth only, one 

 rudimentary tooth and rounded ends. There is, however, a certain 

 amount of variation in this character, as in some specimens I have 

 found only uncini with four large teeth, like those generally found 

 at the end of the rows ; or there may be a very small and rudimentary 

 outer tooth, representing the first of the typical five large teeth. 



M. adriatica is described as having 36-47 uncini in one row. I 

 have found in the Salcombe specimens 34, 35, 42, 43, 46 ; 38, 39, 42, 

 the last three figures being obtained from different segments of the 

 same worm. 



The colour of the Salcombe specimens is not subject to much 

 variation, and agrees with von Marenzeller's description. The red 

 patches on the dorsal surface spoken of by the author vary in size, 

 shape, and position, since they are due to blood showing through the 

 skin. I need only add further that when the gills are contracted they 

 have a distinctly greenish tinge. 



It is practically certain that this species is the Sahella curta of 

 Montagu (Testacea Britannica, p. 554; quoted in Johnston, British 

 Museum Catalogue, p. 263), although some points in his description 

 of the worm do not seem quite to agree. Montagu, however, says : 

 " This Sahella is gregarious, covering the whole surface of the shore 

 in the inlet near Kingsbridge, appearing like bits of straw covered 

 with mud, and as close and numerous as stubble in a field," which 

 exactly expresses what we saw in the same estuary during the present 

 summer. 



Pectinakia belgica {Pallas). One specimen was obtained on the 

 eastern shore at the north-east end of Salcombe Harbour, from a 

 patch of sandy ground, and a second specimen from the north-east 

 side of the Salstone. 



Sabella pavonina, Savigmj. On the south-east shore of the Salstone 

 this species was extremely abundant at dead low water with a 16-ft. 

 tide, being often found in clusters of twenty or thirty together. It was 

 also abundant on the mud on the west side of the Kingsbridge estuary, 

 south of Garston Point. Other localities, where a few specimens were 

 obtained, were the west side of the Salstone and the zostera banks 



